Random wanderings with Paul Phillips

Breathe In, Breathe Out!

Growing up wild in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, I learned lessons as a youth (both good and bad) that still inform this soon-to-be senior adult of life’s truths. When I say “growing up wild”, I don’t want you to infer that I was a carouser or a gang-banger. I don’t even mean to imply that my parents didn’t have discipline, because they did have that. We’re told, “Spare the rod and spoil the child,” and let’s just say that I wasn’t spoiled! However, we did have full run of the neighborhood, and by neighborhood, I mean anyplace within walking, and later on, biking distance. During summer vacations and after school, we ranged far and wide and discovered all the hiding places, the best locations for dirt clod fights, and climbing trees that were to be found. We got into a little trouble too, but we’ll leave that subject for another day.

In those days, when the city hadn’t spread out into the local farmland, there was wildlife galore. Garter and bull snakes were common, and lizards beyond count. My favorite was a strange-looking creature that in those days of innocence, we called a horny toad. One day, I’ll rant about how our language has been hijacked by double entendres and gutter-discourse, but suffice it to say, the round, tubby lizard was called that because of the myriad of sharp horns all over its sand-paper rough body and for no other reason. It’s real name is the Texas Horned Lizard, with some tongue-twister of a scientific title tacked on, but we called it simply a horny toad. These placid creatures, for all of their ferocious appearance, wanted nothing else but to be left alone. They had no real defenses; they weren’t lightning fast like those we called racers (Whiptails), nor could they change their body’s skin hue to match the ambient surroundings, like those we labeled chameleons (Green Anoles). They were doomed to lumber along amongst the grass and rocks and rain-parched earth, eating the big, red ants that lived in abundance on the ground and keeping an eye out for the passing coyote, dog, or snake.

They did however, have a couple of defense mechanisms that made them undesirable to predators. The first one I observed on any number of occasions, since to these little critters, I looked like a predator. When approached by their enemies, they would first try to flee. Failing that, since they just weren’t built for speed, they would stop and turn toward the dangerous party, pushing themselves up away from the earth and then, puffing themselves up with air, would expand to a much larger size than they were originally. I don’t know all the data, but I’m guessing that more than one young bullsnake, when faced with this “giant” lizard, would give up and move to easier prey. It probably wouldn’t seem appetizing to think about that sliding down one’s gullet. So, the little so-ugly-it’s-cute varmint goes on its way again, with one less danger to worry about today. The other defense mechanism? Well, I never saw it happen, but the books tell us that when the ruse of “Big” horny toad doesn’t convince the attacker, he can actually shoot blood out of the corners of his eyes at them. The blood has a chemical which is unsavory to its attacker and discourages further confrontation.

I’m thinking that there are multiple examples in the animal kingdom who make themselves bigger to defeat their attackers. Any number of non-venomous snakes threaten attack by spreading out and raising their heads as if to strike. The cute little puffer fish, which has the same spiny appearance as the horned lizard, is perhaps the most famous of these pretenders. He is not in any way equipped for sustained speed and so, is the target of many predator fishes in the ocean. But not many of them want to swallow that spiny balloon when he’s puffed up in his intimidating pose.

So, what is the point of this nature lesson, you may ask? I’ve been thinking about the comparison of these natural responses in animals to our own response to perceived “attacks” on ourselves. Speaking purely for myself (you are free to draw your own conclusions), I know that when threatened with exposure of my inadequacies, my immediate reaction is to “make myself bigger” and do my best to impress the would-be attacker with my abilities. Rather than suffer the exhibition of my true incompetent self, I will build an awe-inspiring facade to head off the embarrassment. My puffed-up, spiny exterior will often keep the assailant at bay. The real dilemma of using this sham to protect yourself, even occasionally, is that in order to sustain the perception, you have to stay “big” more and more frequently, until at last, you’re wearing this false persona anytime you’re around people.

There’s been lots of talk about bullying recently, especially in our news. I’ve been bullied, as have most of you at one time or another in your lives. I remember way back, while still in elementary school, one kid was shoving me around on the playground, as he did on a regular basis. I finally had enough and shoved back, prompting him to challenge me, “I’ll meet you across the street after school!” This was the well-known code for arranging a fight off school grounds and I wasn’t about to back down (in spite of the fact that I’d never been in a fistfight). “I’ll be there!” I snapped and stalked off, hands in pockets to demonstrate my machismo (failing miserably, I’m sure). Evidently, the horny toad impression worked though, because 10 minutes later, he was back, mumbling, “I just remembered, I have to be someplace after school, so I won’t be there…” So, no fight (whew), but a lesson learned, only to be used many, many times in my life, and not always for the right motives. It’s a little discussed fact that many times bullies have been bullied themselves. They’ve just learned how to make themselves big and they like the power it gives them over others.

I don’t have much advice on how to avoid this behavior, but sometimes, just recognizing what we’re doing that is wrong is the first step to recovery. Additionally, I do remember reading a great little saying that Chuck Swindoll quoted in one of his books. The sign was posted in a kid’s clubhouse for their house rules:

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One thought on “Breathe In, Breathe Out!”

Interesting creatures those horny toads. I never believed they could spit blood out of there eyes until I saw it myself one day. Quite an interesting defensive behavior. I guess as long as you don’t start spitting blood out of your eyes maybe your okay.